Casket truck or bier.



E. EDMONSON.

GASKET TRUCK 0R BIER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7 1911.

1,023,070. Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

/La/nw I 35% E. EDMONSON.

GASKET TRUCK OR BIER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7, 1911.

1,023,070. 1 Patent ed Apr. 9, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig.3. Fig. 1.

Subawboz 7 W 1 f? i ma 5 wwwaww COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPM CO., WASHINGTON, u.c.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFTQE.

EDGAR EDMONSON, 0F GREENFIELD, OHIO.

CASKET TRUCK OR BIER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR EDMoNsoN, a citizen of the United States,resident of Greenfield, in the county of Highland and State of Ohio,have made a certain new and useful Invention in Casket Trucks or Biers;and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact descriptionof the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to theaocoinpanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of thesame. Fig. 8 is a side view of the invention in contracted form. Fig. 4is an end view of the same. Fig. 5 is a central vertical section of oneof the tubular standards, and the parts carried thereby, with the castershown as partly broken away. Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinal section ofone of the tie links, partly broken away.

The invention has relation to improvements in folding trucks or biersdesigned for the support of caskets, and it consists in the novelconstruction and combinations of parts as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, the numerals1, 1 designate rectangular end frames, composed each of tubularstandards 2, 2, and upper and lower cross bars 3, 8, and 4, 4, eachupper cross bar 3 fitting at its ends in seats of horizontal tubularheads 4' of vertical rods 5, having slidable engagement in the upperportion of the standards. Each lower cross bar 4 fits at its ends inseats in foot blocks 6, 6.

Connecting the two end frames at the sides are two series of lazy tongbars 7, 7, each series of which is composed of three sets of cross barspivoted to each other and to the head and foot blocks of the end frames.The central sets of cross bars at each side are pivotally connected attheir upper ends to the inner branches of the end sets of cross barsthrough the medium of transverse brace rods 8, 8, and the members ofeach set or pair of cross bars are pivotally connected to each otherthrough the medium of similar brace rods 9, 9.

When the truck is unfolded for use, the vertical rods 5 slide downwardin the tubular standards until the head blocks 4, 4,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 7, 1911.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Serial No. 637,373.

thereof come in contact with the upper ends of the standards, whenfurther unfolding is prevented.

The casket and its burden, when in position upon the truck, is designedto rest upon the transverse brace rods 8, 8, and upon the upper crossbars 3, 8, of the end frames, and in order to brace the central portionof the truck against downward movement under the strain of the casketwhen it is being placed upon the truck, a tie link 10 is provided ateach side, connecting the brace rods 8, 8. That is to say, the endbranches of the end sets of cross bars of the lazy tongs have directbracing engagement with the end frames, but the other or inner branchesof the end sets of cross bars and the central sets of cross bars, beingwithout floor support, have a strong tendency to move downward orcollapse under the strain of the load, the transverse brace rods 8, 8,at the same time tending to move farther apart. This tendency isresisted in an effectual manner by the links 10, aforesaid, which act asa tie for the transverse rods 8, 8, to prevent any farther separationthereof.

It is preferred to form each tie link 10, of two sections 11, 11, eachof which is pivotally connected at one end to one of the rods 8, and atits other end by a rivet 10 to the cheek pieces 12, 12, of a joint 18,between the sections. lVhen the truck is unfolded, the sections of thetie links 10, approach a position nearly in alinement with each other,but slightly bowed downward, the approximated ends 14, 14, of thesections having stop engagement with each other to brace the sectionsagainst strain, and prevent any farther upward movement. Said ends havealso preferably stop engagement with a pin or rivet 15, connecting thecheek pieces of the joint, to additionally brace the sections againststrain.

The cheek pieces of the joint are designed to have close frictionalengagement with the ends of the link sections, as is desirable, thesecheek pieces at the same time serving to inclose the ends of thesections when the truck is unfolded, giving a neat and finishedappearance.

16, 16, designate casters having stems 17, fitting removably in seats18, of the foot blocks, said stems having annular grooves 19, with whichsecuring screws 20, of the foot blocks have removable engagement.

When the load is removed from the truck,

it can be readily folded to compact form by drawing or pushing its endstoward each other, the tie links 10, being designed to foldautomatically inasmuch as they are slightly bowed when extended.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire toobtain by Letters Patent is 1. A folding truck for caskets, comprisingend frames provided with tubular standards having foot blocks, lowertransverse rods engaging said foot blocks, vertical rods having slidableengagement within said standards and provided with head blocks, andupper transverse rods engaging said head blocks a lazy tongs at eachside having pivotal connection with the transverse rods of said endframes, the lazy tongs having central sets of cross bars provided attheir upper ends with transverse brace rods, foldable tie linksconnecting said brace rods and composed each of two sections, a bridgejoint havingopposite cheeks embracing and having pivotal connection withthe adjacent ends of said sections, and stop means for 7 said sectionswhen in. extended position. 2. A folding truck for caskets, comprisingend frames provided with tubular Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor Washington, D. 0.

standards having foot blocks, lower transverse rods engaging said footblocks, verti- I cal rods having slidable engagement Within saidstandards and provided with head blocks, and upper transverse rodsengaging said head blocks, a lazy tongs at each side having pivotalconnection with the transverse rods of said end frames, the lazy tongshaving central sets of cross bars provided at their upper'en'ds withtransverse brace rods, and automatically foldable bowed tie linksconnecting said brace rods and composed each of two sections, a bridgejoint having opposite cheeks embracing and having pivotal connectionwit-h the adjacent ends of said sections and a pin connecting saidcheeks, said ends when the tie links are extended having stop engagementwith each other and against. said pin to prevent further upward movementand brace the sections against strain.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR EDMONSON.

Witnesses M. IRWIN DUNLAP, TAYLOR NEFF.

five cents each, by addressing the Gommissionerof Patents.

